Closure for envelopes



June 27, 1939. v. c. ROSS CLOSURE FOR ENVELOPES Filed Aug. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheetl iNV NTOR Wgql (52 {R055 ATTORNEYs June 27, 1939.

v. c. ROSS CLOSURE FOR ENVELOPES Filed Aug. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ulllll rl'llll'llllllullllll 7, ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1939 TED, vsm

PATENT pm] CLOSURE FOR ENVELOPES V Verel 0. Ross, Seattle, Wash.

Application August 10,

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of envelope making and more particularly to a closure for envelopes.

My invention consists essentially in providing a bendable tongue on the envelope flap, which is adapted to coact with a fixed loop, on the body of the envelope, so arranged that the tongue by being distorted, or'bent canbe made to engage the loop; and then, after the same is inserted, the tongue is bent back'toits normal condition to provide a secure closure. The opening of the envelope is a reversal of this operation; namely, that the tongue is bentor deformed substantially as it was for insertion andwhen withdrawn this distortion of the tongue places the tip of the same in tight with the envelope flap so that the contents of the envelope can be easily removed. or allowed to slide out with no danger of their being caught on the tongue. This construction is believed to be essentially different from those numerous closures now on the market, many of which, while thoroughly satisfactory for closing an envelope, require several additional operations, are more expensive to manufacture, or are characterized by a construction which leaves a portion of the metal, particularly the tip thereof, exposed, making them objectionable for mailing and the like. With my present construction I believe that I have avoided many faults of the existing types of closures.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide a closure which is covered by the fiap of the envelope when the closing is completed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a closure which is quickly and easily closed or opened and which provides a marked degree of security when in its closed position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a closure of such simple form that it adds little to the cost of the envelopes construction and is thus adaptable for a wide range of uses.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelope showing my closure thereon the envelope being broken so that the closure itself may be shown on a larger scale.

Figure 2 is one preferred form of closure consisting of a tongue and staple in a position reversed from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a modified form of my closure which is best adapted for pasting in place on an envelope.

Figure 4 illustrates the closure of Figure 3 as employed on an envelope.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified construction of s the loop portion of my'clo'sure.

Figures 6, 7, and 8 show successive steps in closing an envelope with my device.

Figure 9 shows the envelope in its closed position.

Figures 10 and 11 show the steps in opening an envelope that has been sealed with my closure.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, I2 designates the tongue of my closure. This I prefer to make of metal that will bend and yet be of such a temper that it will retain its new form until again distorted. Certain kinds of 'heavy paper can be used although metal seems to be the most desirable. This tongue may be secured to the flap of the envelope after the showing of Figures 1, 3, and 6, with the open or free end l4 so disposed as to point toward the flap fold IS. The form shown in Figures 2 and 3 is provided with a relatively long tongue portion having a sharp bend formed at l6 where the metal is passed through the body of the flap 18. A portion 20 is then provided substantially parallel to the tongue portion and then the metal is bent back at 2| to provide a second portion which pierces the envelope flap and the extreme end is bent down in the direction of point or tip M as at 22. This down-turned portion is spaced sufficiently far from portion 20 to tightly secure the device on the flap, the spacing being slightly less than the thickness of the flap material. Under certain conditions it is desirable to secure tongue H to a small paper patch 24 which in turn can be pasted, or otherwise secured, to the envelope flap after the showing of Figure 3.

Tongue I2 is adapted to engage a staple or loop member as 26. The simplest form is probably that shown in Figure 2 in which an engaging bar 28 is provided which normally is spaced from body portion 30, of the envelope, by an amount sufficient so that the tongue can easily be passed between the same and the envelope body. In the form shown in Figure 2 this is accomplished by having two right angle bends providing portions 3| and 32 which pierce the envelope body; these portions are then bent at right angles to form the securing portions 34 and 35. The exact form of this loop may be varied to meet different conditions. In Figures 3 and 4 I have illustrated one modification which can be best made of paper instead of the metal normally used in the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this latter form the paper is formed to provide the bar portion 38 and has the base portion 39 which is adapted to be glued or otherwise secured to the envelope body.

In Figure 5 I have shown a further modification of the loop in that a portion of the envelope body 30 is deformed to give a raised portion 48, the sides of which are pierced as at 41 and 42 to provide an opening suitable for the passage of tongue I2.

Method of operation In using my closure the envelope stufiing 44 having been placed within the envelope, the 010 sure device is grasped at 20 and 22 and the flap l8 brought down over the envelope stufling after the showing of Figure '7 and the extreme end [4 of tongue I2 is pressed against the envelope so as to distort the same after the showing of Figure '7. With this accomplished, the flap is drawn further downwardly than its normal position, after the showing of Figure 8, and tip !4 is entered under bar 28. The curved form of tongue l2 facilitates this operation. The tongue is then fully inserted under bar 28 and the tongue I2 is pressed against the envelope so as to restore it to its normal straight position following the teachings of Figure 9. This provides a closure that is secure; that cannot easily be deranged; admits of sealing as with a sticker or with wax; and with no unprotected ends protruding which might cause trouble in mailing or handling.

The opening of the envelope is accomplished by grasping the flap with'the fingers; the tongue I 2 is then partially withdrawn and pulled outwardly after the showing of Figure 10 so as to again bend tongue l2. When this is accomplished the further downward movement of the flap and tongue, as illustrated in Figure 10, will free the tongue entirely from bar 28 and the envelope may be opened as shown in Figure 11. A study of this View will show that the end I4 of tongue I2 is pressed firmly into the envelope flap so that the material as 44, with which the envelope is filled, can be easily slid out over the same without any danger of engaging the extreme ends.

The foregoing description and the accompany- 1 ing drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A concealed detachable clasp comprising a loop-portion on the rear outer face of an envelope, and a resilient flexible tongue having its lower end attached at the inner side of and adjacent the free edge of a complementary flap, the free end of said tongue being extended through the loop-portion and projecting toward the upper edge of the envelope.

2. A concealed detachable clasp comprising an integral trapezoidal raised portion having converging sides on the rear outer face of an envelope having spaced parallel slots in said converging sides, and a resilient flexible tongue having its lower end attached at the inner side of and adjacent the free edge of a complementary flap, the free end of said tongue being extended through said slots and projecting toward the upper edge of the envelope.

VEREL C. ROSS. 

